Zhenzhao Ma defeats german promise Olek for gold U78kg

At the Grand Slam Qazaqstan Barysy, world silver medallist Zhenzhao Ma of China claimed the gold medal in the U78kg category. In the final, she faced Anna Monta Olek, who, despite being ranked 13th in the world and winning two World Judo Tour golds this year, is unable to secure a spot at the Games due to the competitive landscape. Nonetheless, Olek remains focused on long-term progress, laying the groundwork for future cycles.

Throughout the event, Olek showcased her formidable judo skills, defeating opponents such as Ikeda of Japan, Tatarchenko of the Athlete Refugee Team, and Pacut-Kloczko of Poland en route to the final.

In the final match, Olek appeared stronger and more comfortable, handling Ma's grips and attacks with ease. However, just as the contest entered golden score, Ma executed a clever ko-soto-gake to throw Olek for ippon, securing the gold medal for herself and leaving Olek with the silver.

The first bronze medal contest featured Emma Reid of Great Britain and Beata Pacut-Kloczko of Poland. Reid scored first with an ashi-waza for a waza-ari, nearly converting it into a score on the ground. Despite Pacut-Kloczko's relentless left-handed uchi-mata and ashi-waza attempts, Reid managed to withstand the pressure and secure her second consecutive bronze medal in as many weeks.

In the second bronze medal contest, Nadezha Tatarchenko of the Athlete Refugee Team faced Vanessa Chala of Ecuador. The match was action-packed, with both judokas attempting various throws. However, Tatarchenko threatened with a dangerous counter, which Chala failed to heed, ultimately leading to her being thrown and Tatarchenko claiming the bronze medal.